Xu Fu!?
The name struck Alex like a thunderbolt, sending a jolt of shock through his system.
In the Storm Riders plane, the name Xu Fu was infamous, synonymous with one of the most enigmatic and formidable figures in the martial world.
Was this merely a coincidence, or could this frail old man truly be Di Shitian, the ancient master who had defied time itself?
Alex didn't need to ponder the question for long. Acting on instinct, he gently released the horse's reins, stepped back two paces to align himself with the animal's side, and reached out to steady Xu Fu, his hand resting lightly on the old man's arm.
Xu Fu glanced at him, his weathered face registering surprise. "Young man? What are you doing?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he noted Alex's shift from leading the horse to supporting him directly.
Alex flashed a warm, sincere smile, his expression disarming. "Old man, I'd better hold you steady to make sure you don't fall off the horse," he replied, his tone earnest and reassuring.
Xu Fu nodded, his suspicion easing. "Oh, young man, you're so thoughtful," he said, accepting Alex's explanation without further doubt, his gratitude evident.
With his hand maintaining contact with Xu Fu, Alex's mind interfaced with his unique copy ability.
A digital interface materialized in his thoughts, presenting the option of a removable disk—the gateway to Xu Fu's essence.
Alex navigated to Xu Fu's C drive, the digital repository storing his genetic bloodline, and examined its specifications. The total capacity was 120G, slightly larger than Alex's own but still within the range of ordinary humans. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, prompting Alex to wonder if he had misjudged the situation.
But then, a single file caught his eye, and his heart skipped a beat: Phoenix bloodline.
The discovery confirmed his suspicions. This was no ordinary old man—Xu Fu was indeed Di Shitian, the immortal master of Storm Riders lore.
Yet, a puzzle remained. The C drive's total capacity was only 120G, with over 20G still available. For someone who had lived nearly two thousand years, such a modest capacity seemed inadequate. The C drive governed lifespan, its cache files accumulating as the body aged, yet Xu Fu's drive showed far less wear than expected for his ancient existence.
Delving deeper, Alex noted that the Phoenix bloodline file alone occupied a substantial 30G. Copying it would leave him with just over 20G of his own C drive capacity, a significant reduction.
After a moment of reflection, Alex pieced together the mechanics of Xu Fu's longevity. The Phoenix bloodline didn't expand the C drive's capacity but instead slowed the generation of cache files, drastically extending lifespan by reducing the rate of biological wear.
For most people, the C drive averaged around 100G, with slight variations based on innate talent. As the body functioned, it generated approximately 1G of cache files annually, though lifestyle factors—staying up late, overeating, or other excesses—could accelerate this to 1.5G or even 2G, shortening lifespan.
Longevity, Alex realized, could be achieved in two ways. The first was to vastly increase the C drive's capacity—to 1000G or even 5000G—allowing for a vastly extended lifespan. The second was to minimize cache file generation, stretching a standard capacity over centuries by slowing the body's aging process.
The Phoenix bloodline clearly followed the second path. Its 30G file enabled Xu Fu to generate cache files at a fraction of the normal rate, perhaps 1G every ten or even a hundred years, effectively granting near-immortality within a standard C drive.
Alex hesitated, weighing the decision to copy the Phoenix bloodline. While it would slow his own cache file generation, extending his lifespan, it would consume 30G of his C drive, leaving limited space for future opportunities.
If it had increased his C drive's capacity, Alex would have copied it without a second thought. But sacrificing 30G for a slower aging rate posed a risk. What if he encountered a superior genetic bloodline later—say, that of a legendary elf or an immortal deity, offering hundreds of gigabytes of capacity? With only 20G remaining, he might lack the space to copy such a find, a regret he could ill afford.
The C drive was unique among his digital interfaces, its decisions carrying permanent consequences. Unlike skills or knowledge, which could be strategically managed, the genetic bloodline was a one-time choice, demanding caution.
Torn between opportunity and prudence, Alex opted to plan for the future, shifting his focus from the Phoenix bloodline to explore Xu Fu's other drives.
Curious, he opened Xu Fu's D drive, the repository of his martial arts skills. The drive was nearly full, brimming with an astonishing array of techniques. From swordplay to internal arts, Xu Fu's arsenal was a treasure trove of martial mastery, reflecting centuries of accumulated expertise.
A sudden realization struck Alex. Beyond the Phoenix bloodline, Xu Fu's longevity was also sustained by his self-created Sacred Heart Art, a technique renowned for its life-prolonging properties and vast versatility.
Eager to investigate, Alex navigated to Xu Fu's E drive, the knowledge archive. There, among countless files, he found it: a knowledge document labeled Sacred Heart Art.
But as he examined its properties, his excitement turned to frustration. The file's capacity was a staggering 45G, exceeding the 43G of free space in his own E drive.
The comparison was stark. Wuming's decades of swordsmanship knowledge had occupied 28G, a reasonable size that left Alex with 43G of E drive capacity after copying. But Xu Fu's Sacred Heart Art, forged over millennia and encompassing life extension, resurrection, and myriad other abilities, demanded 45G—2G more than Alex could accommodate.
Regret washed over him. If he hadn't copied Wuming's swordsmanship knowledge, he might have had room for the Sacred Heart Art, a technique far surpassing Wuming's in scope and power.
His thoughts drifted to a smaller file—4G of basic sword knowledge copied from a minor martial artist named Luo. If only he could delete that file, he could free up enough space for the Sacred Heart Art. But his copy ability was a one-way process, capable of replication but not deletion, locking him into his past choices.
Xu Fu possessed two unparalleled treasures: the Phoenix bloodline and the Sacred Heart Art. Yet, Alex found himself unable to claim either due to capacity constraints. The Phoenix bloodline risked limiting future genetic opportunities, and the Sacred Heart Art was just beyond his reach.
For most, encountering Di Shitian would be a perilous threat, his millennia of cunning and power a danger to be avoided. But for Alex, it was a golden opportunity. Di Shitian's penchant for deception, masquerading as a benevolent figure to toy with others, worked in Alex's favor. As long as he played along and avoided provoking the ancient master, Di Shitian was unlikely to strike, especially with Alex's departure from the Storm Riders plane imminent in just over half a month.
With physical contact, Xu Fu's bloodline, skills, and knowledge were laid bare, a vast fortune open for the taking. Yet, Alex stood before this vault of riches, unable to claim its greatest prizes.
"Could it be? Am I destined to stand before a vault of riches yet leave with nothing?" he thought, a wave of frustration washing over him.
Perhaps only Alex could view Di Shitian, the ancient master of the martial world, as a trove of opportunity rather than a looming threat. But for now, the wealth of Xu Fu's abilities seemed destined to slip through his fingers, a tantalizing promise just out of reach.